Cuttack, Nov. 1: Orissa High Court has asked the state government to clear the air over the issue of banning threads coated with powdered glass for flying kites.

The court expected to know the action taken by the government on the basis of the request from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for ban on the use of glass-coated, metal, plastic or other sharp manja threads used for flying kites.

AWBI had made the request to the chief secretary and director general of police of all states and Union territories on January 13 this year.

The animal welfare board, which is under the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, stated: "In addition to its horrific toll on birds, every year manja results in injury, death or electrocution of people as the sharp string accidentally slits the throats of commuters travelling on motorbikes or cuts power lines as children fly kites."

"It is therefore requested that necessary steps be taken by the states to issue directions to all authorities concerned to take immediate action against the use of glass-coated, metal, plastic or other sharp manja threads in your state. Your action would help safeguard the environment for people and for animals," AWBI concluded.

The court was hearing a PIL last week, which sought "direction to the state government to take immediate steps to impose state-wide ban on use of Chinese manja and other synthetic (non-biodegradable) threads strings coated with finely crushed glass and other harmful substance used for kite flying or other purposes".

"The division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B.R. Sarangi posted the matter to November 17 for hearing along with the response from the state government," said advocate Shivsankar Mohanty, who filed the PIL.

"The court accordingly issued notice to the state government expecting a reply within two weeks and a rejoinder to it by the petitioner within one week thereafter," Mohanty said.

According to the petition, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had imposed a complete ban on procuring, stocking and sale of nylon threads, which is commonly called Chinese dor, or other threads coated with glass and other harmful substances used for kite flying after AWBI's request.

The petition also contended that Rajasthan High Court had issued directions to stop the use of synthetic kite flying threads such as Chinese manja. Gujarat and Maharashtra have also imposed a total ban.

The petitioner has contended that use, manufacture and sale of the manja thread is illegal under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and sought direction to the state government to strictly enforce the prohibition throughout Odisha.

Mohanty also referred to the deaths allegedly caused as a result of injuries from manja thread at Barang, Telengapenth and Cuttack. On January 20, 2016, the collector Cuttack had imposed restrictions on the use of manja and plastic threads in kite flying in Cuttack district after a six-year-old girl was killed at Telengapenth when her throat was slit by the sharp, synthetic thread.